updated 12:05 pm EST, Tue December 6, 2011

Goes beyond web, iPad, set-tops

Global iPlayer will make it to the iPhone and iPod touch on December 8th, the BBC has announced. The paid video-on-demand service has been available on the iPad for about five months. A list of countries getting the iPhone app on the 8th includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The Global iPlayer differs from the UK version in several ways, crucially by being restricted to UK license payers. Some shows hosted in the UK have also yet to go Global; the BBC says, though, that it has done a deal with distributor DRG that will see more shows hit Global iPlayer in early 2012, such as Peep Show, Shameless and Black Books. Green Wing and Father Ted should be available in some countries starting in January.

Some other planned changes to Global iPlayer include the creation of new "Music" and "Arts and Culture" genres, and access to some BBC Radio programs. Still under wraps is when iPlayer will become available in the US. The BBC may want to ensure that a current pilot program irons out as many issues as possible before the service becomes available in one of the largest markets outside the UK.